I’m the first to admit that I went plant-based for selfish reasons. At 39, I was a fat, out-of-shape couch potato hurdling into middle age depressed and unenthusiastic about my life. It was only in the wake of a health scare on the eve of my 40th birthday that I realized not only that I needed to change, but that I wanted to change.

That change ultimately took the form of a plant-based diet, a decision that permanently changed the trajectory of life — transforming me into a middle-aged ultra-endurance athlete, one of Men’s Fitness’ “25 Fittest Men in the World” and the respected wellness advocate I have today become.

By eating nothing but plants close to their natural state, I lost weight quickly and responsibly. My vitality and enthusiasm for life restored, I went on to accomplish athletic feats I could have never previously dreamed possible, including top finishes at the Ultraman World Championships and becoming the first person to complete EPIC5: five ironman-distance triathlons on five Hawaiian Islands in under a week.

Believe it or not, I can say without reservation that these achievements became possible only because I put animal products in the rear view. No beef, no chicken, no pork, no fish, no milk, no cheese, no eggs. Just plants. Go figure.

But life isn't static. As my journey evolves, I have become increasingly more interested in issues beyond my waistline and the world of elite athletic performance. Issues like disease prevention, environmental conservation, world hunger, and the accountability we all shoulder to be more responsible stewards of this precious spinning globe we share with billions of other people and animals.

Wellness begins with what we put on our plate. But that’s just first base. True health is far more comprehensive — extending beyond our personal physical well-being to the collective, sustainable health of all living beings and the places they call home.

So here are my top 10 reasons why going plant-based is the best way to live healthier and more responsibly so together we can all thrive.

You might be surprised to learn that more than half of all water consumed in the U.S. is used for animal agriculture. In fact, the meat and dairy industry uses a full third of the entire planet’s fresh water. Based on a global average of water consumption for beef production, it takes about 460 gallons of water to produce just one quarter pound hamburger. And dairy isn’t much better, requiring 1,000 gallons of water to produce just one gallon of milk. This is not only wasteful and inefficient, it is emblematic of a broken system of food production that is simply unsustainable.

3. It cuts greenhouse gas emissions

When it comes to global climate change, we tend to focus on the impact of fossil fuel use and hot-button issues like fracking. But the elephant in the room is animal agriculture, which is responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions, more than the exhaust from all transportation combined. If every American dropped just one serving of chicken from their diet per week, it would save the same amount of CO2 emissions as removing 500,000 cars from the road. In fact, a plant-based diet will cut your carbon footprint by a full 50%.

4. It conserves land.

Livestock covers 45% of the Earth’s total land, and nearly half of the contiguous U.S. is devoted to animal agriculture. One and a half acres of land can produce 375 pounds of meat, or 37,000 pounds of plant food. In other words, a meat eater requires 18 times the amount of land necessary to feed someone eating plant-based. You do the math.

5. It helps prevent species extinction.

Animal agriculture is also a leading cause of species extinction. More than a hundred animal and insect species are lost every day from rain forest destruction — a crucial, irreparable blow to the biodiversity essential to maintaining our planet’s healthy ecology.

6. It reduces waste pollution.

Every minute, 7 million pounds of excrement are produced by animals raised for food in the U.S. In fact, a farm with 2,500 dairy cows produces the same amount of waste as a city of 41,000 people. Seriously? Yeah, seriously.

7. It helps prevent marine life destruction.

As many as 40% (63 billion pounds) of fish caught globally every year are thrown out, and some scientists say we could see fishless oceans by 2048. Moreover, the waste runoff from animal agriculture can cause ocean dead zones — giant algal blooms so oxygen deprived that no animal or plant life can survive.

8. It stops deforestation.

Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction, and one to two acres of rain forest are cleared every minute for grazing and growing feed for livestock. The impact is a cancer on our planet’s precious lungs, responsible for providing us with the oxygen we need to survive.

I truly believe that eating plant-based is my secret weapon for maximizing athletic performance by expediting my recovery — the holy grail when it comes actualizing performance potential. If I could do what I've done athletically on nothing but plants, I assure you that you can, too.

Regardless of how into wellness you may be personally, the truth is that we're sicker than ever. Our planetary problems are profound. I don’t enumerate these problems to be alarmist; I only hope to draw attention to the fact that the standard American diet isn’t just making us sick. It isn’t just inefficient. It’s simply outdated tech.

It’s time for a food system reboot. The good news is that version 2.0 has been staring us in the face all along.

So if you want to prevent and reverse disease, do what’s best for all of us collectively, and kick ass in sport and life, adopting a plant-based, or at least plant-centric approach to your plate is the most powerful and impactful choice you can make as a conscious consumer.

Rich Roll

Plant-Powered Athlete & Best-Selling Author

Rich is a two-time top finisher at the Ultraman World Championships and first person (along with colleague Jason Lester) to complete EPIC5 – 5 ironman-distance triathlons on 5 Hawaiian Islands in under a week. His inspirational memoir FINDING ULTRA: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself was an Amazon #1 best-seller and has inspired thousands across the world to embrace a plant-based diet. Rich is a frequent guest on CNN, was named one of the "25 Fittest Men in the World" by Men's Fitness and is the host of The Rich Roll Podcast topping charts on iTunes. A graduate of Stanford University and Cornell Law School, Rich is an inspiration to people worldwide as a transformative example of healthy living. Co-authored with his artist / chef wife Julie Piatt, Rich’s new cookbook and lifestyle guide The Plantpower Way hits stores April 28. Also check out Rich's MBG Video Courses, The Ultimate Guide To Plant-Based Nutrition and The Art of Living With Purpose.